Thursday, 19 December

Transition: NDC demands freeze on large-scale recruitments

General News
Felix Kwakye Ofosu

The spokesperson for the incoming government’s transition team, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has raised significant concerns regarding last-minute actions by the outgoing administration, including large-scale recruitments and a GH₵240 million payment to an entity associated with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

Speaking after the team’s first day of work, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu cautioned that these actions could have serious fiscal repercussions for the incoming government, given the already strained state of the economy.

“There were a few issues that generated discussion, notably the troubling last-minute recruitments and payments in some Ministries, Departments, and Agencies,” he disclosed.

Highlighting the payment to the ECG-related entity, he explained that the incoming team requested a suspension of the transaction to allow for proper scrutiny, emphasizing the need for financial prudence during the transition period.

“Good governance requires that the incoming government is given the opportunity to assess and make informed decisions on such matters,” he stated.

While acknowledging the necessity of payments to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to maintain electricity supply, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu questioned the urgency and importance of the GH₵240 million payment in question.

“Documentation indicates efforts to pay over GH₵240 million to an entity connected to the ECG.

If it was directed towards IPPs to sustain power, there might be less concern, but this payment appears unrelated to such critical needs,” he noted.

The transition team expressed broader concerns about the fiscal implications of these last-minute decisions, with Mr. Kwakye Ofosu urging the outgoing administration to exercise caution and restraint.

“The timing of these recruitments and payments could have severe fiscal consequences on the incoming government,” he emphasized.

In response, representatives of the outgoing government agreed to suspend the payment pending further discussions at the next transition team meeting scheduled for Friday.

“We raised strong objections to these actions and requested their immediate halt.

The government side has agreed, and we will ensure that such practices, which set a dangerous precedent, are thoroughly addressed,” Mr. Kwakye Ofosu concluded.

Source: Classfmonline.com/Cecil Mensah